Doing some rough math, with current gas prices (~$5.90 in CA), 35k miles per year, assuming only highway miles at ~18mpg, and including the cost of regular maintenance (excluding tires which EVs need too); on the low-end, assuming you’re driving the 4.2L, you’re spending ~$11,000 (±$2,000) every year.
An EV, by comparison, assuming an off-peak rate of $0.25/kWh (I pay ~$0.11, but after all the BS line items, it’s closer to a 22 cents), and a 4 mile/kWh efficiency; you’d be paying ~$2,150 total per year.
You could theoretically save ~$8,000 (± $2,000) per year driving an electric. Sure, the cost of an engine is ~$3.5k, but that’s in addition to the $11,000 you’re already paying every year. Compared to an EV, in just 3 years you’d save enough money to cover the price of a $20k battery (if we assume worst-case pricing), which are generally expected to last 15-20 years. Even if we cut that in half, you’re still saving more with an EV in the long-run.
GRANTED there are other issues/concerns with driving an EV, like charge rate, planning trips (infra. still needs to catch up), people who don’t have a place to charge at home, etc.
Believe it or not, not everybody lives in California. I live in Texas and bought gas here yesterday. Using that price at 35k you’re looking at like 6500 a year.
And maintenance on an ICE is super cheap if you just change the fucking oil. There’s a reason I have 565,000 miles on a single engine that still runs great. I spend about $200 a year on oil change supplies (changing oil is supe4 easy and you should neve4 pay someone to do it), and maybe another 50-100 for things like air filters. I buy used tires (shop I use buys tires from other tires shops when someone upgrades tires on new vehicles) every 2 years or so for about $200 for a full set. Other incidental maintenance like spark plugs, brake pads and AC compressors come along, but I’m still averaging around $500/year on maintenance because maintenance is cheap and easy to do yourself.
So all in I’m around 6k a year in running costs.
Oh - and I’m not spending another 7 or 8 grand a year on a car note on a car I can’t service myself.
If you adjust the $11k based on the cost of living index, my estimate falls in line with your 6,500/year for Texas. The index in California is 149.9 vs Texas at 92.1, which is ~61.44% less:
($11,000 original estimate) * (0.6144 % difference) = $6,700 per year in gas.
If we adjust the price of electricity using the cost of living index it also drops down to ~$1,320/year to drive an EV. Even adjusting for Texas you’re still down ~$4,700 year over year. In 5 years of driving a comparable EV, you’d have saved over 20k.
And maintenance on an ICE is super cheap if you just change the fucking oil.
100% agree. Its cheap, but not free, unless your time has no value.
The crazy wasn’t the gas, it was the maintenance costs. Though the gas comparison you made is still ignoring the original point that renters cant use cheap electricity and are stuck paying just as much as gas users on public EVs that take 10 times longer to charge as filling up a tank assuming you don’t have to wait for a charger to become available.
And you’re also ignoring the expense of an electric car. As in, they’re super expensive to buy. I bought my used truck for 6 grand 15 years ago. I’d pay more than that in a single year on a car note for an electric car.
Electric cars make economic sense for people who are already economically privileged. You have to have the money to buy a new expensive car and own a house with a garage where you can install a fast charger.
Doing some rough math, with current gas prices (~$5.90 in CA), 35k miles per year, assuming only highway miles at ~18mpg, and including the cost of regular maintenance (excluding tires which EVs need too); on the low-end, assuming you’re driving the 4.2L, you’re spending ~$11,000 (±$2,000) every year.
An EV, by comparison, assuming an off-peak rate of $0.25/kWh (I pay ~$0.11, but after all the BS line items, it’s closer to a 22 cents), and a 4 mile/kWh efficiency; you’d be paying ~$2,150 total per year.
You could theoretically save ~$8,000 (± $2,000) per year driving an electric. Sure, the cost of an engine is ~$3.5k, but that’s in addition to the $11,000 you’re already paying every year. Compared to an EV, in just 3 years you’d save enough money to cover the price of a $20k battery (if we assume worst-case pricing), which are generally expected to last 15-20 years. Even if we cut that in half, you’re still saving more with an EV in the long-run.
GRANTED there are other issues/concerns with driving an EV, like charge rate, planning trips (infra. still needs to catch up), people who don’t have a place to charge at home, etc.
11 grand a year is crazy numbers.
Believe it or not, not everybody lives in California. I live in Texas and bought gas here yesterday. Using that price at 35k you’re looking at like 6500 a year.
And maintenance on an ICE is super cheap if you just change the fucking oil. There’s a reason I have 565,000 miles on a single engine that still runs great. I spend about $200 a year on oil change supplies (changing oil is supe4 easy and you should neve4 pay someone to do it), and maybe another 50-100 for things like air filters. I buy used tires (shop I use buys tires from other tires shops when someone upgrades tires on new vehicles) every 2 years or so for about $200 for a full set. Other incidental maintenance like spark plugs, brake pads and AC compressors come along, but I’m still averaging around $500/year on maintenance because maintenance is cheap and easy to do yourself.
So all in I’m around 6k a year in running costs.
Oh - and I’m not spending another 7 or 8 grand a year on a car note on a car I can’t service myself.
And apparently crazy accurate!
If you adjust the $11k based on the cost of living index, my estimate falls in line with your 6,500/year for Texas. The index in California is 149.9 vs Texas at 92.1, which is ~61.44% less:
(
$11,000original estimate) * (0.6144% difference) =$6,700per year in gas.If we adjust the price of electricity using the cost of living index it also drops down to ~$1,320/year to drive an EV. Even adjusting for Texas you’re still down ~$4,700 year over year. In 5 years of driving a comparable EV, you’d have saved over 20k.
100% agree. Its cheap, but not free, unless your time has no value.
The crazy wasn’t the gas, it was the maintenance costs. Though the gas comparison you made is still ignoring the original point that renters cant use cheap electricity and are stuck paying just as much as gas users on public EVs that take 10 times longer to charge as filling up a tank assuming you don’t have to wait for a charger to become available.
And you’re also ignoring the expense of an electric car. As in, they’re super expensive to buy. I bought my used truck for 6 grand 15 years ago. I’d pay more than that in a single year on a car note for an electric car.
Electric cars make economic sense for people who are already economically privileged. You have to have the money to buy a new expensive car and own a house with a garage where you can install a fast charger.
100% valid points. If someone wants to continue the math, I’d love to see how they compare!